Whistler RCMP is reporting that a 32-year-old Whistler resident died after being trapped in a tree well in the Seventh Heaven area of Blackcomb yesterday.  She was skiing with her husband when the two became separated.

Her husband reported her missing at 10:40am.

A member of the public found the missing woman 40-minutes later.  She was unresponsive and in a tree well near Expressway & Las Resort runs in the Seventh Heaven area.  Blackcomb ski patrol arrived with a mountain doctor, a paramedic, and a nurse-practitioner who performed CPR on her without success.  She was declared dead on the mountain.

The deceased was an off-duty employee of Whistler Blackcomb.

“Whistler Blackcomb wishes to express its sincerest condolences to friends, family and co-workers for this sad loss.” -Whistler Blackcomb said in a statement.

There have been at least 5 tree well deaths in North America this winter.

Please learn more about tree wells and how to avoid them here:

VIDEO: How To Stay Out of Deadly Tree Wells